Post by Banker on May 10, 2012 6:57:25 GMT 7
TOOWOOMBA pensioners have voiced their frustration, saying they have been forgotten once again despite a subtle increase to payments made in the Federal Budget last night.
Toowoomba pensioner Ray Venaglia said he could not see any way pensioners were going to benefit from last night's Budget.
"In the long run, I think we are actually going to suffer," he said.
"With the Carbon Tax coming in, the cost of living is only going to be pushed up.
"Seeing as though pensioners are at the bottom of the ladder as usual, we are going to be the ones who cop it worse."
Australian Pensioners' and Superannuants' League Toowoomba vice-president Allan Cowan said pensioner benefits, if any, were buried under other prioritised spending.
"You would have to be suspicious (about the lack of pensioner funding) considering they made a big deal about the school kids bonus and low-income families but nothing was really mentioned at all about pensioners," he said.
Mr Cowan said the small increase in payments was not the right way to assist pensioners struggling to get by.
"Just giving cash to people doesn't fix the problem," he said.
"The Government is trying to encourage pensioners to continue living at home, but as long as general cost of living expenses continue to rise, current pension payments are just not going to cut it.
"They need to look at further discounts and similar schemes as a way of alleviating the financial pressures felt by pensioners."
In the long run, I think we are actually going to suffer.
www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/05/10/pensioners-say-increase-not-enough/
Toowoomba pensioner Ray Venaglia said he could not see any way pensioners were going to benefit from last night's Budget.
"In the long run, I think we are actually going to suffer," he said.
"With the Carbon Tax coming in, the cost of living is only going to be pushed up.
"Seeing as though pensioners are at the bottom of the ladder as usual, we are going to be the ones who cop it worse."
Australian Pensioners' and Superannuants' League Toowoomba vice-president Allan Cowan said pensioner benefits, if any, were buried under other prioritised spending.
"You would have to be suspicious (about the lack of pensioner funding) considering they made a big deal about the school kids bonus and low-income families but nothing was really mentioned at all about pensioners," he said.
Mr Cowan said the small increase in payments was not the right way to assist pensioners struggling to get by.
"Just giving cash to people doesn't fix the problem," he said.
"The Government is trying to encourage pensioners to continue living at home, but as long as general cost of living expenses continue to rise, current pension payments are just not going to cut it.
"They need to look at further discounts and similar schemes as a way of alleviating the financial pressures felt by pensioners."
In the long run, I think we are actually going to suffer.
www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/05/10/pensioners-say-increase-not-enough/